The ads are catchy. Upbeat music plays as the surfer, the artist or the skateboarder states his or her beliefs about life.

They all end with, "And I'm a Mormon."

On July 26, Pittsburgh became one of nine test markets for the advertising campaign that cheerfully counters stereotypes of Mormons as straight-laced, white, humorless and sexist. The campaign from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes a revamped website at www.mormon.org.

The ads arrived on the heels of an anti-Mormon backlash by some gay rights activists on the West Coast. But the campaign's designers said it responds only to numerous survey findings that half of Americans don't know a Mormon.

"It's time to reintroduce ourselves," said Scott Swofford, the director of mormon.org.

"We hope the spots portray Mormons as diverse people who are united in their belief in Jesus Christ. ... We hope [Americans] see that Mormons are friendly, charitable, giving to others. We aren't perfect, but our behavior ought to reflect our beliefs."

(snip)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that it is the true church, which God restored in the 19th century, long after other churches had lost the complete message of Jesus. The Book of Mormon, considered by the church to be an equal companion to the Bible, says that ancient Israelites came to the Americas around 600 BC and that the resurrected Jesus visited their descendents in America.

The Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches don't recognize the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Christian because it rejects the doctrine of the Trinity. It teaches that God is the father of the spirits of all people born on the earth. Jesus is considered the first of God's spirit children and also God's physical son.

The Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches don’t recognize the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Christian because it rejects the doctrine of the Trinity. It teaches that God is the father of the spirits of all people born on the earth. Jesus is considered the first of God’s spirit children and also God’s physical son.
_______________________________________________

They are caught in between two teachings. The LDS church attacks all religions as an abomination. The LDS church teaches that they are the only true Christian religion. So when they state “we are Christian too” its a lie, they really mean that they are the only true Christians. Never mind that they don’t believe that the bible can be trusted and they are literal sons of God just like Jesus.

Its enough to make your head explode.

5
posted on 08/23/2010 3:45:20 AM PDT
by pennyfarmer
(Even a RINO will chew its foot off when caught in a trap.)

Some of the Mormons on FR are actually posting topics on how ti improve the image of Mormonism. They think if they repackage a LIE, nicely it will become TRUTH. It’s not working. They want to run Mitt again.

My only major recent impression about Mormons was that they denied my son attending their scout group. They suggested one further away. This was disturbing for me, having scoured the community trying to find a group near home. In the end, we found a good one nearby on our own, but no thanks to the Mormon group leader. That experience really left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't mind at all about my son doing scouting with Mormon kids, but they were exclusive. Probably better off I suppose. We don't need that kind of attention. My son's a moreno and obviously Latino descent, who knows how they would treat him. They excluded him before they ever met him.

Just regular folks? Hey Pal why not come over Sunday and watch the game over a few beers? Oh, you don’t drink? That’s fine, we can have coffee if you like? Oh, you don’t drink coffee either? Just regular folks...

22
posted on 08/23/2010 5:38:17 AM PDT
by HenpeckedCon
(What pi$$es me off the most is that POS commie will get a State Funeral!)

Does the LDS people have horns, long crooked noses, and vampire teeth or do they have problems like anyone else in life such raising families, working, sickness, trouble with mother nature like tornados, flash floods, accidents, fires etc.?

Does not all God’s children have those trails and tribulation

I was on the other side for 38 years of my life and was not very good at handling those issues.

As LDS I am learning by the sweet spirit of the Holy Ghost how the Lord Jesus Christ wants His disciples to manage these issues.

We all are challenged with these issues this counsel is for all of God’s children not just LDS.

All the Lord wants us to do is to Love One Another so we can over come those in the world who wish to destroy us!

John 13:

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The LDS is not a confrontation Church but to strive to do the will of the Lord

...NOT how some in the world does things such as creating doubt and fear and maligning those who are different.

18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)and which I should join.

19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.

20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, Never mind, all is wellI am well enough off. I then said to my mother, I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true. It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?

BTW this is not the frist time the Lord had spoke His mind on this matter.

These are things said in other dispensations and now we are in the last dispensation.

Isa. 29: 13
13 ¶ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Matt. 15: 8
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Mark 7: 6
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

2 Ne. 27: 25
25 Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men

As LDS I am learning by the sweet spirit of the Holy Ghost how the Lord Jesus Christ wants His disciples to manage these issues.

Oh, please. Where did you learn this . . . on the planet Kolab????

****

No I received this during my conversion before I ever met a missionary or knew about the Church.

I was alone in my NYC apt cleaning and humble myslef on my kness to God and prayed if the Book of Mormon was true tiall happen so quickly my whole being was flooded with Joy beyound words

Oh I receive the most beautiful spirit of Joy I ever felt in my life and that was around the Spring of 1982 and my baptism was also just as wonderful the Spirit of the Lord was so strong and my eyes of understanding were open.

When you compare beliefs to the Bible, you will know who the “true church” or body of believers are. They are the ones that follow His teachings in the Bible. Others follow MAN and MAKE UP stuff. Is it any wonder that false religions don’t want you spending time with the Bible?

Mormons don’t. They claim to embrace the Bible but they don’t. They believe the Bible is corrupt and so they REWROTE it. They want you to be loyal to The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ and Pearl of Great Price.

DANIEL S.

I am an average male who was born into the Mormon Church. I was baptized in 1951 at the age of 8 by my next-door neighbor in California. He later became my Stake President who sent me on my mission. My father never became a member, but he allowed my mother who was a member to take my brother and me to the LDS Church. Since it was a fun place to go and I had friends there, I went and fully embraced the Church. Instead of going on a mission at age 19, I had to wait 2 extra years to talk my father into allowing me to go. My mother was the catalyst, challenging him until he relented.

I went to Uruguay, South America from September 1964 to December 1966, spending the first 3 months at the Language Training Mission in Provo. I worked very hard and baptized 35 people in two years. Then, I returned home and continued my education at Brigham Young University. I was married in the Oakland temple on a semester break in January of 1969.

Over the years, from my marriage at age 25 to my resignation at age 64, I was a Stake Missionary 3 times, a Stake Mission President, an Elders Quorum President 3 times, a High Council member for 7 years with responsibility for the Bishops Store House and Dry Pack Cannery in Fresno, CA, a Scout Master, a Financial Clerk, a Membership Clerk, Ward Mission Leader, and an Executive Secretary. With my knowledge of the Scriptures, I was in demand by the fulltime missionaries because I could usually persuade a prospect to accept the validity of the Mormon viewpoint.

Early on, I was once the Senior Aaronic Priesthood leader, meaning that I was in charge of fellowshipping all the new converts into our Oregon ward. At one time there were 25 new folks, so I organized a weekly Fireside in the homes of members during which I led a discussion about various Gospel topics. I remember relying on the Ricks Ready Reference as a source of answers to the many questions put to me. It always worked. I remember, for example, giving a detailed explanation about why the blacks were denied the Priesthood by quoting from Abraham.

This group all became very active in the Mormon Church, with one going on to become a Bishop. This all took place before the Internet knowledge explosion, so my explanations were accepted as gospel because I was convincing and sincere. I had no clue at all that my references could be fraudulent. I hope such a Fireside program would never work again thanks to the wealth of information available on the Internet.

I worked in pharmaceutical sales for 35 years while raising four beautiful children, all born in the everlasting covenant. My oldest daughter got married, and they began to be challenged in their Ward in Washington State by less than truthful members. She and her husband and four children returned to California in 2004 to start over. They have both gone on to complete their educations, and they both have very lucrative jobs now. But early on, after their arrival, Jenny and I had a conversation in which I asked her to share with me some of her feelings and discoveries that led her to leave the Mormon Church.

She showed me a few websites with the proviso that this will lead you out as well if you study them. Since I have always had an insatiable curiosity, I began seeing what was out there. My personal Aha! moment came one night in December of 2005 when I was reading the story of Bishop Simon Southerton of Australia in which he discovered quite innocently that DNA proved the Native Americans emigrated from Asia and NOT Jerusalem. I really did not know what to do with this new information. I was the executive secretary in a Spanish branch in Fresno at the time. I began to recognize for the first time the extreme personal control exercised by Church leaderscontrol over every aspect of our livesin their attempt to maintain righteousness and personal purity. Not knowing what to do, I continued attending services until March, 2006, when the following happened:

Hermano was a bright-light personality in the Branch who was not afraid to express his ideas, and they were interesting and entertaining. But being on the inside with the Branch Presidency, I knew that they detested him because he was not under their control as a good member should be. His public statements were not defamatory, just different sometimes. He had a strong testimony, but he wished some things could be different, and he was not afraid to say so in public. One fast-and-testimony Sunday morning, he stood up and announced that in his opinion we could do without Sacrament meeting because everything we really needed to know was found in the Temple Ceremony. His statement was not intended to be inflammatory, just an offhand statement of what if. The branch president became totally unglued! He met privately with him that week and announced that he could not participate in any meetings for six months until he had fully repented.

Then during the following Sunday Sacrament meeting he publicly reviewed this decision in front of all present. This brother was totally crushed in every way. I recognized how capricious, arbitrary, and political the situation was as I witnessed his public humiliation. But the final corker for me was later that same Sunday when I entered the Presidents office to discover the President and his two counselors slapping each other on their backs and exulting about how they had finally shut up this troublemaker! Now, it was my time to become unglued, and I told them how wrong they all were to judge this man. I was furious, walked out and never went back.

Fortifying my resolve was my private knowledge that the Book of Mormon was a fraud, and that by leaving I was not really jeopardizing my future spirituality because the Mormons had it all wrong anyway! Still, after that it took over another year and a half until I had the nerve to remove my name from the records of the Church. All told I have one child still active along with my mother who is 88 now. My ex-wife (I asked for a divorce in the summer of 2007) and three of the four children and their families and I have all left the fold.

I was living in a hot apartment in Fresno in the summer of 2008, when I remembered how beautiful it was in the state on Montana. I had gone whitewater rafting in Missoula in 1979, and I fell in love with this beautiful state. So, I moved here to Montana in July of 2008. It has been the best move I ever made! I have discovered the joy of simple friendships in the First Presbyterian Church where I am in the choircomplete with a robe and a sash! Five years ago if you had told me I would be here, I never would have believed it. I have made it a point to not to disclose to anyone here that I used to be a Mormon. This has allowed them to accept me as a normal human being without a lot of unnecessary and tiresome explanations.

[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I know you don't mean to boast but true Christianity is not about “good works”.

It's Mormon beliefs that are not Biblically compatible, hence the Bible was rewritten to be that of another religion. The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ is the problem. The Book of Mormon is that of another gospel.

I would have never received or leran anything had I not taken time to read or listen!

Phil 4

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

In all due respect what does forgiveness and Love thy neightbor, have to do with your reply?

Definitions have been assinged to the LDS by those who wish to marginalized the LDS.

I think there is a mix up in the meaning of words to be Christ like and the understanding of the word "work" which when done properly is doing in the Spirit of the Lord is being his ears and arms and legs on earth, helping to lift another.

Charity never faileth

Grace stands alone yet when we read these lessons can one lose their blessing and fall from grace?

Matt 18 23 ¶ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

No I received this during my conversion before I ever met a missionary or knew about the Church. I was alone in my NYC apt cleaning and humble myslef on my kness to God and prayed if the Book of Mormon was true tiall happen so quickly my whole being was flooded with Joy beyound words

Now, if I had never heard of the book of mormon how could I have prayed to God about its truth, let alone its existence?

Mormons believe the Bible you quoted from is CORRUPT and needed to be rewritten.

***

This is another vindictive misnomer attempt to marginalize the LDS.

I say vindictive because things are deliberately taken out of context to create distrust and ill feelings towards the LDS and when it gets to that point who ever started this and continues this is doing the work of the wicked one!

Now, if I had never heard of the book of mormon how could I have prayed to God about its truth, let alone its existence?

***

I was alone in my NYC apt cleaning and humble myslef on my kness to God and prayed if the Book of Mormon was true it all happen so quickly my whole being was flooded with Joy beyound words

Oh I receive the most beautiful spirit of Joy I ever felt in my life and that was around the Spring of 1982 and my baptism was also just as wonderful the Spirit of the Lord was so strong and my eyes of understanding were open.

***

I was cleaning house and was going to throw the Book out which a friend had given me a year ago.

I say vindictive because things are deliberately taken out of context to create distrust and ill feelings towards the LDS and when it gets to that point who ever started this and continues this is doing the work of the wicked one!

nmh - still waiting for proof from resty that those verses she cites are translated correctly.

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